I'm in the process of degreasing my first set of bones (red fox) and i have been having arguments with my sister about it. She believes i have no right to take from an animal’s corpse, as wildlife should be left alone, even after death, and that articulating the bones would be objectifying of a sentient life for my own benefits. She thinks that it is okay for animals to kill and eat the flesh of others because it is their only choice and a necessary evil, but we as humans have the choice to not take from others, and it is our responsability. 

I get her point but i disagree. To me, as long as it stays respectful, it’s fine to pick up a carcass and use it even if not for survival. The fox stayed 2 weeks rotting on its spot of death before i touched it, so nature had time to claim whatever it needed, and all discarded tissue and maceration water were thrown in the woods. I think the bones are not something nature is very hungry for, and so i can take them, and doing this whole process made me feel closer to the fox, and respect it (i named him Fergus).

But i dont know, it’s an interesting discussion and i wonder what you guys think, what is man’s place in the buffet that is a rotting carcass ? Is it morally wrong to take from it ?

Is it wrong to take an animal’s remains ?